Drying machine



April 21, 1936. C A. WARDLE 2,03%,395

DRYING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1934 Hw @M Patented Apr. 21, 1936 PATENT OFFICE DRY'ING MACHINE Clarence A. Wardle,Philadelphia, Pa. Application May 18, 1934, Serial No. 726,215

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to laundry machinery and more particularly to driers for curtains, being an improvement upon applicants Patent No. 1,914,185, granted June 13, 1933.

Some'of the objects of the present invention are to provide an improved drying machine` for curtains and other articles; to provide a drying machine capable of efficiently handling one or a plurality of curtains to be dried; to provide a drying machine in the form of a. unitary structure capable of expanding and contracting as to articles handled in accordance with the drying demanded; to provide a drying machine wherein a plurality of heating elements are employed and are selective for use in accordance with the number of curtains being simultaneously dried; to provide a novel drying machine wherein any one of a number of curtains can be removed and replaced without disturbing others in the 20 machine; and to provide other improvements as will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 represents a sectional side elevation of a drying machine embodying one form of the present invention; Fig. 2 represents a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 represents a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing one form of the present invention consists of a box I0 of open top construction and generally rectangular in shape. 30 The length of the box I0 is such as to readily receive a curtain, valance, or other fabric article of maximum length, and of a height to receive the maximum width of such an article. As here" vertically spaced posts I2 on the inner side formt ing vertical guideways I3, and vertically spaced columns I4 on the other side forming vertical channels I5. The arrangement is such that guideways I3 in one frame are respectively opposite the guideways I3 in the other frame, and likewise each channel is in alinement with guideway I3 on the opposite side of its frame. The space between each pair of alined posts I2 is bridged at the top of the box I0 by a beam I 6. and the respective pairs of beams I6 are spaced apart a definite distance to permit the placing and removal of the curtain supporting units I1.

These units I1 are preferably all alike, each consisting of a rectangular skeleton frame formed by top and bottom rails I8 and 20, and end mullions 2| and 22. Braces 23 are employed at intermediate locations fory strengthening purposes. 'Ihe work face of each of the rails and mullions is lined with a strip of card cloth 24 so that the line teeth thereof can readily penetrate a curtain or other fabric article and hold the article in stretched condition. To ensure proper stretching of such article two stretcher members 25 and 2B are provided, the former being parallel to the mullions and the latter parallel to the rails. The stretcher members 25 and 26 form no part of the present invention since generally they are mounted for sliding adjustment in the manner fully disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No. 1,914,185. Each is faced with card cloth and they are used to stretch the article taut by longitudinal and transverse adjustment.

The units I1 are each mounted between pairs of stiles 21 which are braced at the lower ends by a cross bar 28. The stiles 21 ride vertically respectively in the ways I3 and under control of sash cords 29 and weights 30. As here shown each cord 29 is connected to the lower end of a stile 21 and rides over a pulley 3| located adjacent to the upper end of the channel I5. Pivot pins 32 project from opposite ends of the unit I1 and are respectively journalled in the stiles 21 so that each unit I1 can be swung to a horizontal position when the stiles are elevated to bring the unit above the top plane of the box I0 or top of the other units I1. Each unit I1 is capped by a closure strip 33 along its top edge which strip has a width sufficient to abut the next adjacent strip 33 so that when all the units I1 are in the box I0 the otherwise open top of the box will be entirely closed and the heat confined therein for drying purposes. Y

l For drying purposes each unit I1 is independently heated by a coil 34 located in close proximity to the bottom of the box I0, each coil being below and in direct vertical alinement with its unit I1. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 the coils 34 are interconnected in series relation having control valves 35 between each pair for cutting certain coils into or out of operation as required. When the units I1 are all within the box I0 the heat from each coil rises vertically to pass through and around each unit I1 with its stretched curtain or valance in position for drymg.

For locking each unit I1 in the plane of the stiles 21 and fixed to slide vertically with the stiles 21 each mullion is provided withV a spring latching plunger 36 arranged to enter a socket 31 in the adjacent mullion. When any pair of stiles 21 is raised vertically the balance weights 30 allow them to remain in elevated position so that a dried curtain can be removed and replaced by one to be dried. This can be done expeditiously because the latches 36 can be withdrawn to allow the unit l1 to turn about the pivots 32 and assume a horizontal position whereby the handling and placing of the curtains can take place conveniently.

It will now be apparent that a complete unitary drying apparatus has been devised whereby one or more drying units can be used asl desired without waste of either heat or space. Where one unit is to be used steam or other heating medium will be introduced only to the coil 34 directly beneath the unit and so generally con. sidered the box Iii becomes a single unit ma chine. As other units are brought into use the heating coils respectively for those units are supplied with the heating medium. The novel independent assembly of units makes possible the removal of any desired unit without disturbing the other units and without loss of heat because the bottom plate 40 of each unit seals the opening through which the unit is raised to elevated position. Any unit when elevated can be swung to horizontal position for curtain removal or replacement.

While only a single form is shown in which this invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to any specic construction, but might be applied to various forms without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

In a drier the combination of an open topbox provi-ded with oppositely disposed end ways terminating in the top plane of the box, U-frames mounted therein for Vertical sliding movement and in raised position adapted to have the arm portions disposed above the top plane of said box, an article supporting unit carried Within each frame, pivotal connections between the unit ends and frame arms to permit the unit to be 'swung across the arms when the frame is in raised position, and heaters positioned beneath each frame and article supporting unit in the box.

CLARENCE A. WARDLE. 

